Actress Murphy buried on Christmas Eve
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Actress Brittany Murphy was laid to rest at a funeral in Los Angeles with family and friends in attendance, her family says.
Murphy's family said in a statement a funeral was conducted Thursday for the 32-year-old actress at Forest Lawn Memorial Park and her husband, Simon Monjack, remembered the fallen cinema star as his "soul mate," People.com reported.
"He went on to say that mystery is the nature of love and you never know when or where it will strike or how quickly it will be taken from you," Murphy's family said.
Murphy, known for her roles in films like "Clueless" and "Drop Dead Gorgeous," died Sunday at her home in Los Angeles.
People magazine said while it appears Murphy died of cardiac arrest, a ruling on an official cause of death was awaiting toxicology results.
"She was one of the world's great actresses," Monjack, who married Murphy in 2007, told People magazine "She loved her job ... along with her family and puppy. We were more blessed to have Brittany in our lives than she could have been to have us."
Company files $36.7M suit against Cage
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- A real estate company alleges in a $36.7 million lawsuit against Nicolas Cage the U.S. actor failed to pay back more than $5 million in loans.
Attorneys representing Red Curb Investments allege Cage, 45, also did not adequately detail his personal financial situation before taking on a loan, particularly the actor's $6.3 million tax debt, People.com reported Thursday.
"(Our client) was assured that Cage had substantial assets consisting of high-end residential property, yachts, airplanes, antiques, custom automobiles, jewelry, furs ... to assure repayment of the (loan)," the lawyers allege in the lawsuit. "(But) the values of Cage's assets were grossly exaggerated."
The suit also accuses Cage's former accountant and a mortgage broker of attempting to defraud Red Curb, People magazine said.
The company is seeking at least $36.7 million in the suit. The total being sought includes the loan amount, as well as other costs such as interest, damages and attorney fees.
"Any claims that Nic Cage engaged in fraud or wrongful conduct is absurd and ridiculous," the film actor's attorney, Marty Singer, said in response to the suit.
KISS bassist Simmons sued for assault
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- A couple allege in a lawsuit against KISS bassist Gene Simmons the rock star assaulted them at a Los Angeles shopping mall.
KTLA-TV of Los Angeles said Thursday that Nathan Marlowe and his wife, Cynthia Manzo, allege Simmons responded negatively after Marlowe began video-taping the 60-year-old rocker at The Grove mall.
Marlowe alleges he was videotaping Simmons and asking the rocker about monogamy last Saturday when Simmons lunged at him.
The lawsuit charges Simmons took the camera from Marlowe and attacked and threatened the couple when they attempted to retrieve the device.
Simmons was not arrested or charged in the alleged incident.
KTLA said Marlowe and Manzo are seeking more than $25,000 in damages in the suit. The couple made civil claims of assault, battery and infliction of emotional distress against the rocker.
Christian singer Loux dies in road crash
COZAD, Neb., Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Christian music singer Derek Loux died at the age of 37 after getting into an accident while traveling on an icy highway near Cozad, Neb., his family says.
Loux's family said in an online blog the Christian music star was traveling on Interstate 80 in Nebraska on Wednesday when his vehicle hit a patch of black ice, left the interstate and crashed, The Kansas City (Mo.) Star reported Thursday.
Loux was pronounced dead after being rushed to a hospital following the accident.
The "Paper Religion" singer was returning from a training session in Colorado regarding how to serve as a minister to human trafficking victims, his family said.
Derek's dream was bigger than Derek," said Randy Bohlender, a spokesman for Loux's family. "We can celebrate him by pursuing those things that were important to Derek by seeking justice that springs out in a life of prayer."
The Star said Loux is survived by his wife, Renee, two daughters and eight adopted children.
